zig rigs

[Scotty]

Recently there has been much discussion about Zig rigs on the forum, and so I have written this little article in order to try and clear up any questions people have on the subject.
If I am not successful feel free to PM me through the forum, and i'll try and tie up any lose ends.

Although Zig rigs are an old concept, it's only in the last few seasons, that they have really been in the spotlight. I have had a huge amount of success using this rig, and used at the right time will prove a valuable part to your fishing arsenal.

A Zig rig (suspended / anchored floater) is simply a long nylon hooklength fished up off the bottom, to a pre-determined depth. For example a 10 foot link would sit 10 feet off the bottom.

It takes a bit of thought when you first start experimenting with Zigs, for example, any link over 10 feet in length poses major problems when it comes to netting fish, as the lead will almost be in your tip ring. So make sure there is someone you can shout if you need a hand. Also being careful when casting is necessary, as I find the link has a habit of spiralling behind me before I cast. The best way I have found to over come this is to place the bait and hook in an empty mug on the floor. This stops the dangerous end moving around, and also stops the hook picking up any debris before the cast. By using this method you can quite easily achieve accurate clean casts with a 20 foot long link.

Many anglers think one dimensional, this more so in recent years with the growing number of instant carp anglers. I have watched too often people standing in a swim, they see a fish top and chuck a bottom bait out to it. Most of the time the fish is only sinking a few feet back below the surface, where its mates are. Its times like this we need to think like the match angler, fishing either up or down in the water, trying to find the depth to set his float where the fish are feeding.

This is something that the majority of carp anglers don't even consider, it's not just a case that you have a 14 foot deep lake in front of you; it's the fact that you have a 14 foot lake in front of you and the fish could be sat 3 feet below the surface. There is more to the picture than many realise and the quicker people get out of the one dimensional mould of thinking, the more effective an angler they will become. It's easy to sit there with bottom baits or a 2 inch pop-up out in the lake, as this is what the majority of the lads on your lake are likely to be doing, so why not be different to them? It takes a lot of confidence to stick out 2 or 3 links with little bits of foam or cork 8 feet of the bottom.

Fishing with fake baits is a big leap of confidence, and I was not very happy doing this until I had a few results trying the method. And whilst a fish will pick up a boilie on a Zig, it is surprising how quickly they stop doing this. There are far better alternatives to boilies when fishing this method. Chum Mixers being my favourite. The only problem when fishing with chum mixers is that they quickly go soggy, and drop off the hair after about 30 minutes making it necessary to recast. Therefore I only use mixers when I know I am in with a decent hit of fish! The rest of the time I will use a small roughed up piece of cork on its own. If you haven't got the confidence to fish with just cork, try a piece of maize popped up with a small amount of yellow foam.


Linch Hill's Christchurch has been a good Zig water in the past.Mike Winstone from Hinders has had some very good catches on Linch Hill using Zig rigs and maize hookbaits with equal catches during the day and night!
It's during the cooler months I am finding Zig rigs to be of more and more benefit to me. During mild spells in the winter and early spring, especially around March Zig fishing can really have some devastating effects. During the depths of winter the carp are often sat in mid water, as the pressure from anglers these days is year long, I think they just sit there trying not to be disturbed. They are not really thinking about food, just conserving energy sat there. I think they often take it out of aggression, there is this little piece of maize or cork in their face, and they just decide enough is enough and have it.

As the temperature warms, and we get longer periods of sun, the upper layers of the water will start to warm. Water conducts heat well, and so it is during these periods that you will most often find the carp in the upper layers of the water, they are often more receptive to food during these times as they are a little bit warmer, they are getting more alert to there surroundings and will take a easy meal if its in front of them, so make sure it is.

When fishing Zigs in the summer it is different again. This is for me just an extension of my floater fishing. The method enables you to place a floater out in the lake at 100 yard plus if you wished!


My mate Mark Playing a 20+ hooked on a Zig in ideal summer conditions.Setting up a Zig rig couldn't be any simpler. However line choice for the hooklink I do think is important. There are only two lines I like to use these being Drennan Double Strength, and Berkley XT. I use the Berkley in 6lb and 8lb and the Double Strength in 10lb, depending on the water and snags present. I don't like to use fluorocarbons, as not only do I find these stiff, I also find the knot strength really poor.


My preferred choice of line for Zig rigs.Hook choice should be what ever you are happy with, but should be suited to the size of bait you are using. I prefer to use ESP Stiff Rigger's in a size 7 and Super Specialists in a size 8.


My preferred hook choice.The rig is then set up by tying a loop on the end of the nylon, and threading on your bait / cork. Place a hair stop in the loop like you would a normal bait, then thread the hook on to the link, and tie on knotless knot style. I find it best to have the bait close to the shank of the hook, and when using cork I cut a little slit in it and push the hook into the cork. Next tie a swivel to the other end, being careful not to crimp the line, as this will cause tangles. Thread a pendant style lead on to your mainline followed by a bead, and then tie on your hooklink, this will give you a simple running lead set-up. The simpler you keep this the better, as the more complicated you make the rig the more you will experience tangles. Watch the rig in flight, and just before it hits the water feather the cast. This will cause the hooklink to swing out from the lead, ensuring all is sitting correct up off the bottom.


Zig rig with a cork hookbait!I hope that this little article has been some help both those that have used Zig rigs before, and those that are new to the concept.